New School Psychologist Brittany Flynn is ready to help all students access their full potential and become more involved in the Algonquin community.

After earning her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Wheaton College, Flynn completed a three year graduate program at Worcester State University. Last year, she had a full-time internship at Quinn Middle School in Hudson.

After her experiences in higher education, Flynn knew she wanted to work with high school students. 

“I have an easier time connecting with students in this age range specifically,” Flynn said. “My primary motivation, whether at work or at home, is if I can make one person’s life a little easier, then that’s enough for me.” 

Flynn’s previous internships helped influence the work she does at Algonquin. 

“I’m definitely more comfortable with my role now,” Flynn said. “I’ve had a lot of practice in working with students, writing reports, choosing which tests to use and how I want to interpret their results.”

Principal Sean Bevan believes Flynn is well-equipped for the position. 

“Ms. Flynn struck a nice balance between having a good handle on the concepts that inform the work of being a school psychologist, but also being approachable,” Bevan said. “That’s a hard balance to strike, but it’s important for that role.”

Flynn and a team of other psychologists mainly provide testing for students who may be struggling academically. When a student is referred for special education, Flynn conducts an evaluation and specialized testing. Afterward, Flynn scores the tests and writes a report about their cognitive abilities, and the results inform the type of help the student may qualify for. 

Although she works alongside two other part-time school psychologists, Flynn ultimately has more responsibility as the only full-time psychologist. Flynn manages evaluations and aids students referred to special education for the first time.

“I’m generally the first-responder role if someone has a question,” Flynn said.

Bevan emphasized the importance of having a school psychologist, especially after students have spent several formative years in a pandemic environment. 

“Student mental health has always been a high priority,” Bevan said. “What schools are finding is that the data coming from a variety of different places suggest that students are struggling with their mental health more than ever.” 

Flynn hopes to be a resource for all students, especially those who have experienced a decline in mental health since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 

“I want to be more involved with the student body and the community here, not just testing in my room most of the day,” Flynn said. 

Flynn, who played rugby in college and basketball in high school, spends her free time staying active and going outside. She enjoys participating in recreational sports leagues around the Boston and Worcester areas.

Flynn looks forward to impacting Algonquin by becoming an essential and active member of the community. Any student looking for support can find Flynn in her cozy and decorated office in F107E. 

“I would like to serve as a presence, as a general person that people could check in with,” Flynn said. “I welcome anyone at any time to come say hi and get to know me.”